How to Buy And Sell Your Car on Craigslist?

Selling a car and finding a new vehicle are regular activities for many people. However, using classified websites like Craigslist to list or find automobiles for sale can be risky if not done right, as no central authority oversees the transaction. This guide will explain the proper steps on how to list on Craigslist to sell or buy a pre-owned automobile through Craigslist.

Whether you are a first-time seller hoping to get top dollar for your dependable sedan or an experienced car buyer searching for a good deal on a truck, listing or locating vehicles on Craigslist does require understanding some essential basics. So let’s see how it’s done:

Comparing Costs of Craigslist Washington Cars for Sale With Other Platforms:

If you’re buying a car online and considering Craigslist then yes, it is a good option and is right up there with the big names such as KBB, Carvana, and Edmunds. In fact, you may get better value for money on Craigslist than KBB and Carvana. Let’s see a comparison to establish that.

To keep the comparison fair, we’ll take listing prices of cars from Washington only as different local markets can have varying prices.

As per Kelly Blue Book, the fair purchase price of a 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is $13,724. Edmonds has the same model listed for $11,999. If you look at Carvana, you get a similar model for $20,990. And at craigslist, you get a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited for $14,600.

The Jeep Wrangler listed on Craigslist is 188k miles driven compared to 84K miles for Carvana one and 161k miles on the one listed at Edmonds. So if we do a value per mile analysis then:

• Edmunds offer the best value with $74.53 per 1K miles.
• Craigslist comes at second, offering a good value at $77.66 per 1k miles.
• Carvana is the most expensive option, charging over 3x the price with $249.88 per 1k miles.

There are more than 10 platforms online and thousands of different cars for sale. So don’t rely just on Craigslist, as getting offers from other platforms might be a smart choice.

10 Steps To Selling Your Car on Craigslist

Clean and repair your car as best you can

First impressions are crucial when attracting buyers, so spend time prepping your car. Cleaning your vehicle thoroughly by investing a few hours can really help with a good deal.

• Start with the interior by vacuuming and then washing. Move on the exterior next to remove debris and dirt before taking photos.
• Detail the upholstery and dash, trim, and fix any rips or stains inside the car to showcase its condition.
• Vehicle fluids, tires, and brakes and other essential things should be maintained for a smooth test drive.
• Buff out any scratches using wax and polish at the end and make the paint job shine.
• Tend to minor repairs like lights or stereo issues - bigger ones may deter potential buyers.

Estimate your car’s value.

Gauging a fair price starts with research. Investigate what similar vehicles are listed for:

Note private party/retail values as your target range. Be open to reasonable offers that meet your needs.

Gather the car paperwork.

Collecting important ownership documents builds buyer confidence in the vehicle’s history:

• Make copies of titles, receipts, and service records to disclose without losing original docs.
• Obtain a vehicle history report from platforms like CarFax to disclose accidents upfront.
• Prepare an organized folder with 5-10 key paperwork pieces for easy sharing.

Photograph Your Vehicle From Different Angles in Daylight

Invest in quality photos - they may get dozens of views online and determine a potential buyer’s first impression:

• Shoot outside on a sunny day for flattering natural light.
• Capture the car from all angles, including interior shots of features.
• Use a digital SLR or phone in a high setting for sharp close-ups.
• Select 5-10 nicely composed photos to showcase the vehicle for sale.

Good listing photos increase clicks and sell your car faster than a basic Craigslist Washington cars for sale post with just one or two low-quality images.

Write a Clear Ad With All The Relevant Details

It is essential to include all critical details about the vehicle up front in the ad to attract interested buyers. Some things to mention include:

Meet Potential Buyers to Show The Car

When meeting with interested buyers to show the vehicle, take the following safety precautions:

• Only meet the people interested in buying your vehicle during daylight and in well-lit public places such as mechanic shop lots for everyone’s security
• Have all paperwork and keys organized so you’re prepared if buyers want to review documents or take a test drive
• It’s okay to let them have a short test drive but always sit with them. Test drives let the buyers experience driving it before making an offer
• Answer questions fully and truthfully to avoid any confusion down the line
• Give space, but stay alert during solo vehicle inspections - your safety comes first
• End any meetings that seem unsafe or odd based on intuition

Determine a Price - Be Prepared to Negotiate

When setting your asking price, take the following steps:

• Thoroughly research sale prices of comparable vehicles recently sold locally versus solely relying on estimated book value, which may not reflect current market prices
• Consider your schedule and needs - do you need a fast sale versus getting the maximum price?
• Establish a firm asking price 10-20% above your target sale figure to allow for negotiation.
• Counter reasonable offers below your price versus getting insulted by lowballs - know when to walk away from an unacceptable minimum price.
• Consider contingencies like agreeing to complete pending repairs identified in a buyer inspection.

Be prepared to be flexible in your price negotiations. Researching recent sale prices of comparable cars in your local area, like if you’re in the Big Apple state, then on Craigslist searching for recent ads posted for cars and trucks by owners in New York, is vital in determining a competitive asking price and knowing what is a fair minimum sale value.

Draft a Bill of Sale

Creating a bill of sale is essential to document the exchange and protect both parties. The bill of sale should include:

Notify Your Insurance and DMV

Responsible vehicle transfers require notifying the relevant agencies:

• Contact your insurer within days to remove the vehicle from your active policy
• Submit release of liability form to DMV with new owner’s name for vehicle records
• Provide DMV forms to the new owner to complete registration in their name and ensure proper title exchange

To avoid issues down the road, be sure to keep records from the vehicle sale, including: buyer information and the dates of the sale.

Buying a Car on Craigslist: A Step-by-Step Guide

Craigslist is now the No.1 in revenue and vehicle classifieds website traffic from the U.S. They have a large number of listings and people can actually find good cars for fair prices. So if you want to buy a car, Craigslist can be your gold mine.

But if you don’t know how to buy a car from an online marketplace or you’re just new to Craigslist, you can use this guide for buying a car on Craigslist.

Step 1: Finding cars for sale on Craigslist

There are a lot of cars on Craigslist. So firstly, narrow down your search by using filters. For instance:

The good thing is you don’t have to do this every time. Save your searches, and Craigslist will notify you through email if an ad matching your criteria is posted. However, remember that good cars get sold fast, often within a few days.

So you need to keep checking for new listings daily. And since many sellers hope buyers see their ad right away (within 24 hours) it’s a good idea to engage with recently posted ads, if you want quick responses. For that, you can set up Craigslist alert notifications on your phone to find some good car options that meet your requirements.

Step 2: Examine the listing carefully

Next up, examine your narrowed-down listings carefully before contacting the sellers. For instance, evaluate the following details:

• Mileage: Check if the mileage numbers match your car’s age. And high mileage means a lot of maintenance issues down the road.
• Service Records: Look for clues in the ad regarding regular maintenance and if the service records are available.
• Safety Checks: See if the ad mentions ‘Carfax report available’ or ‘No accidents, report on hand.’ This way, you’ll know if the car has ever been in an accident or had recalls. Ask the seller later if they can show you the Carfax or AutoCheck report.
• Body Condition: Check if the ad has multiple car photos from different angles. And closely inspect those photos for any potential damage.
• Fluids: See if the ad mentions when the car fluids (like brake, transmission, or coolant) were last changed
• Tires: Check if it mentions the condition of the tires and how much tread is left. As shared by Priority Tire, the tread depth between 5/32 to 7/32 inches are acceptable and useful, while 7/32 to 10/32 are much better. And anything lower than 4/32 that is bad and unsafe.

Trust your intuition and do not make a purchase if anything from the list above seems suspicious or too good to be true. And go for ads with detailed descriptions and a lot of photos from different angles, because if they can’t be bothered to include at least essential details about the car, you can imagine what else they have neglected.

It’s a very important step. So make sure you take time to evaluate each listing thoroughly.

Step 3: Contact the seller

Once you’ve found an ad that interests you, it’s time to call the seller. Follow this numbered list on how it is done smartly:

• Make a Call: Calls are important when making a car deal. According to research, 25% of buyers who call dealerships end up purchasing the car. So, it’s best to call the seller directly and let them know you’d like to buy the car.
• Follow Up: Follow up with an email conversation where you can ask any initial questions, set a car inspection time, and clear any doubts before the meeting.
• Inquire About the Seller’s Reason: In your email conversation and on the call, ask the seller why they’re selling their car, and see if both stories match.
• Arrange to View the Car in Person: Make sure to set up a meeting at a public location in the day time. For instance, a busy parking lot.
• Verify Details: Verify all details mentioned in the ad description and also the seller’s location where you’ll meet. This will further clarify to you whether you should go for the vehicle or not.

Step 4: Consider a Carfax Report

Ask the seller if they can provide you with a free Carfax report. Or if they cannot, ask for the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) so you can check the report yourself. Carfax allows you to access basic details of a vehicle by entering its VIN number.

And a single Carfax report will cost you around $44.99, offering information about the number of past accidents, owners, and damages reported to insurers. Also, a paid report gives you more details like unreported repairs or service work.

Therefore, you’d better run a Carfax check to see any potential tampering with the odometer, number of past car owners (more than average for the car’s age is a red flag), and find out about the recently fixed transmission issues that the seller failed to mention.

Step 5: Meet the seller and inspect the vehicle

Since a Carfax report doesn’t offer a guarantee against all problems, you should meet the seller to inspect the vehicle. And if you’re not mechanically savvy, bring an experienced friend or a mechanic with you to check the following areas:

• Engine - Check if the engine makes any unusual noises. Or if there’s any fluid leakage or stains under the car.
• Transmission - Check if the transmission fluid is dirty or low. And if the gear changes are effortless.
• Suspension - Carefully check the parts that hold wheels in place, because weary bushings or broken frames can produce a bumpy ride.
• Brakes - Observe both brake pads. They should be worn equally. And the discs shouldn’t be cracked or scratched.
• Electrical - Test all the electrical functions of the car like its turn signals and power windows, etc.

Besides all of this, make sure the car isn’t warmed up before your test drive and drive it for at least 10-15 minutes for a thorough inspection. Also, try to hit high speed and drive the car over steep inclines with repeated brakes to see if the vehicle works just fine and the engine doesn’t make any unusual sounds.

Then, inspect the interior and the exterior of the car thoroughly, even under the rear seats or the trunk floor. Also, make sure the seller is present throughout the process, especially at the time of sale, and they sign over the ownership.

Step 6: Negotiate a Selling Price

• Now it’s time to negotiate a selling price. See if the listed price is fair and try to get it lower.
• You can check for any recent maintenance or repairs the car has undergone and see how much room there is for negotiation. The higher the maintenance cost was, the lower the selling price.
• Once you feel assertive for a price, close the deal politely. And let the seller know when you will contact them with a final price.

Step 7: Closing the Deal

• Before you sign, read your Bill of Sale. And make sure it has the seller’s ID, the agreed selling price, and the date and time of sale. Also, don’t forget to keep a copy of it with you for the records.
• Then, pay either through cash or certified funds, such as a money order or a cashier’s check. And make sure to get a copy of the receipt as proof of payment.
• Once the car is legally yours, register and insure it under your name within the given time frame in your state. Also, report the odometer reading to the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles). This is important to keep a record of how many miles the car has actually been driven.
• If you suspect any issue during the test drive, go for a pre-purchase inspection from an experienced mechanic before closing the deal. This will save you from a lot of hassle in the future.

How to Spot a Craigslist Scammer - 14 Key Tips

Watch out for the following red flags to spot a Craigslist scammer:

They Don’t Want to Talk on the Phone

Illegitimate sellers usually avoid phone calls. So if someone sounds a bit hesitant on the phone call or just refuses to communicate on the phone, there’s a high chance they’re hiding something.

Alternative Payment Methods are Requested

If a seller requests an alternative payment method instead of PayPal or any other traceable platform, it’s a red flag. Scammers usually prefer wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or prepaid gift cards to avoid getting traced down later.

Rush to Purchase an Unseen Item

Avoid sellers who pressure you for a quick sale without proper inspection and communication. Do not fall for the deceptive language and tactics and buy an unseen item.

Shipping an Item Internationally

If a seller says they can’t meet you in person because the car is across the border. Instead, they can ship the vehicle to you, it’s a red flag. Usually, a legitimate seller would want to meet in person and let you inspect the car. But if they’re refusing that, it’s a sign you must avoid this deal.

Being in a Big Hurry to Complete the Sale

If the seller is pushing to meet quickly and complete the sale, without giving you much time to think and research, it’s possibly a scam. They’re rushing you through the process, so you won’t find out if there’s any potential fault in the vehicle.

Newly Created Account with No Feedback

While a new account on Craigslist isn’t necessarily a scam. But still, you must be cautious about it, as scammers mostly prefer using a new account with zero reviews or a negative history. Check if the seller has given a detailed description and all necessary contact information.

Contact Details Don’t Add Up or Seem Generic

When the provided contact information doesn’t add up, it’s a scam. For example, an address that doesn’t exist or contact info that seems shady. A scammer can trick you into believing he’s reliable. But you should be able to read between the lines.

Photos Look Like Stock Images

If the photos are blurry or the color grading looks like stock images, it’s a red flag. Most scammers use photos from other listings or they use stock images to scam new buyers. So you must look for the unique points mentioned about the car and see if they match the photos.

Poor Communication Skills

If you notice broken English, grammatical errors, and overall poor communication skills in the listing, it’s probably an international scam. Reliable, local sellers will communicate in your language without an issue.

They Don’t Want to Talk on the Phone

A scammer will most probably hesitate to talk on the phone, because this way it’s harder for them to maintain a fake story in real-time. So they’ll avoid chatting on the phone.

New or Empty Account

Instead of posting from their previous accounts with a history of reported scams, fraudulent sellers mostly use new or empty accounts.

Poor Grammar and Spelling

If a seller has poor grammar or spelling mistakes, it’s an obvious scam. Make sure to buy from a local seller and keep an eye on the language.

Request for Assistance Beyond the Sale

Avoid sellers who ask for additional favors, like buying something for them with the money you’re going to pay or sending them money through untraceable methods.

Too Good to Be True Prices

If a price sounds too good to be true or it’s lower than the average market price, there’s probably damage hidden. Unless there’s a legitimate reason, don’t fall for the lower prices.

A real seller will never push you to complete the sale or threaten you to hurry. Instead, they’ll maintain a calm and respectful environment.

How To List on Craigslist to Sell Without Getting Scammed

Don’t Go Alone

Meeting strangers from online listings can be unsafe, so it’s best not to meet buyers by yourself. Bring a friend or family member along for protection. Their presence may discourage unlawful behavior from untrustworthy parties.

Meet in Well-Lit, Public Areas

Opt for well-populated places like busy parking lots where cameras record activity. Police stations also allow transaction areas, though hours may be limited. Avoid secluded spots where it’s easier to take advantage of or harm unsuspecting sellers unobserved.

Selling a Car on Craigslist and the Test Drive

Before buyers take vehicles for prolonged test drives, photograph the odometer reading and vehicle condition. Get contact and insurance information in case accidents occur. Consider riding along to keep valuables safe and ensure vehicles return promptly as agreed.

Always Use Craigslist’s Best Practices and Etiquette

Communicate via the site for documentation and look out for red flags like requests to take transactions offline. Meet during daylight hours and follow other platform safety measures to sell securely.

Get payment in certified funds:

Only accept bank-verified forms of payment like cash, cashier’s checks, or money orders to eliminate risks of payment reversals from bad checks issued by scammers. Personal checks can bounce after vehicles change hands.

Only hand over the car title/keys once it’s sold.

Only relinquish ownership documents and vehicle access once funds are confirmed usable through the issuing bank. This prevents car theft by deceitful buyers attempting to steal vehicles before fraudulent checks are discovered.

Avoid meetings near state borders.

Out-of-state parties may abscond with automobiles across borders if disputes happen, complicating resolution and recovery. Stick to nearby transactions within your own state to simplify the resolution of any post-purchase issues through local authorities if needed.

Share your live location with a friend when meeting with the seller/buyer

Let trusted contacts monitor your whereabouts in real-time using location-sharing apps for safety. They can notify authorities if meetings go awry or you don’t check in as planned. The awareness of being watched can also deter unlawful behavior from others.

Research the buyer or buyer’s contact address.

Scrutinize identifying details given by parties interested in buying cars to spot inconsistencies pointing to fraud. Tools like Privdeed and SpyDialer allow reverse searching of phone numbers and addresses to confirm they belong to the individual you’re communicating with.

Get a screenshot of the buyer’s driver’s license.

Photo identification helps prove who attended appointments if disputes arise post-purchase. License images provide buyer descriptions and signatures for comparison if problems surface after the sale.

Consider a bill of sale:

A simple document stating the exchange terms prevents disputes on terms like prices and prevents future denial of agreements. Forms confirm important facts like mileage and payoff amount and release liability once signed to finalize deals securely.

Shipping The Car If Buying or Selling The Car Out Of State:

Getting your car from one location to another when buying or selling on Craigslist can be complicated with an easy solution. That’s where Easy Auto Ship comes in handy. We have a network of 15,000 carriers going up and down the US. So whether you are buying a car in Washington, California, Florida, New York, Ohio, Alaska, Hawaii or any other part of the US, we have the team to help you move the vehicle to and from the buyer/seller safely.

Each transporter is screened and qualified, so you know your car will be in good hands getting transported. Coverage is also provided with up to $100,000 in cargo insurance for your peace of mind.

Schedule a pickup and delivery with Easy Auto Ship after agreeing to buy or sell on Craigslist, and then relax while they do the moving instead of you. It’s an easy solution to remove the hassle and risk when buying or selling a car outside your local area.